Medieval

Hannah Boston explains how a single piece of evidence contributes to a wider understanding.

By positioning him firmly within the changing context of his times, Lucy Wooding sees coherence in Henry VIII’s religious policies.

Robert Knecht describes the shortcomings of Henry III, the last Valois king, and the circumstances that led him to become the first – but not the last – French monarch to die at the hands of one of his subjects.

Jeremy Black reviews two books on military history, ancient and modern.

Nicholas Orme asks what sense medieval English people had of the land they lived in, and what ancient sites and natural wonders did they visit.

The houses built by Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, are a reflection of his career under Henry VIII, says Maurice Howard, and the King's manipulation of those who served him.

David Abulafia considers Columbus’ first encounters with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, and shows how they challenged European preconceptions about what it meant to be human.

How dangerous was life in the Middle Ages? Sean McGlynn gets to grips with the level of violent crime, and the sometimes cruel justice meted out to offenders.

What did Britain and the Britons mean to the Anglo-Saxons, and what did it mean to be their ruler? 

Jeremy Goldberg examines three stories of disputed marriages and discusses definitions of consent and how they impinged on a medieval woman’s right to marry when and whom she chose.